Sculpture such as the ivory statuettes presented here are the privileged possessions of members of the bwami association
which dominates the social and cultural life of the Lega. According to Biebuyck, bwami is so integrated with all
aspects of Lega thinking and living that it must be very old among the Lega. He believes that its fundamental structure
and organization seem to antedate the emergence of the Lega as a distinct people. 2 It also may be assumed that artworks
have been used in bwami since its earliest inception since on notices striking parallels with the role of artworks in
associations thriving elsewhere among Lega-related populations also indicate the great age of the traditions.
